Dave
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Post by Dave on May 26, 2008 12:36:29 GMT
With the news that D.Batten has left the club, do you think we had too many backroom staff anyway. m.Bateson ran the club on his own nearly, so I did wonder just how much work there was to do for all the extra staff.
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Post by andyparsons on May 26, 2008 14:09:11 GMT
I think that was a major concern for many, how much was being paid out in wages to the new positions created. As you say, Mike Bateson seemed to have the knack of getting most things done for nothing!!
For example...Ian Hayman is now the Company Secretary and doubtless draws a salary whereas before he was a Director putting money into the Club we assume.
Add to him: Colin Lee, Darryl Batten + son, Shaun North, Kenny Veysey, new groundsman plus probably others...the "off pitch" wage bill must have been pretty high!
Again, when there were various overnight stays or the odd flights taken to matches, to say the Directors paid for them does not sound real!!
Did Colin Lee go to each director and ask for £xx each to pay for the bill?
Alex Rowe has been well publicised as saying he knows nothing about running a football club.....so who does run it then??
Colin Lee one assumes, but did he put money into the consortium or does he only draw it out??
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Dave
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Posts: 13,081
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Post by Dave on May 26, 2008 14:14:32 GMT
I think that was a major concern for many, how much was being paid out in wages to the new positions created. As you say, Mike Bateson seemed to have the knack of getting most things done for nothing!! For example...Ian Hayman is now the Company Secretary and doubtless draws a salary whereas before he was a Director putting money into the Club we assume. Add to him: Colin Lee, Darryl Batten + son, Shaun North, Kenny Veysey, new groundsman plus probably others...the "off pitch" wage bill must have been pretty high! Again, when there were various overnight stays or the odd flights taken to matches, to say the Directors paid for them does not sound real!! Did Colin Lee go to each director and ask for £xx each to pay for the bill? Alex Rowe has been well publicised as saying he knows nothing about running a football club.....so who does run it then?? Colin Lee one assumes, but did he put money into the consortium or does he only draw it out?? I believe Colin Lee has only ever drawn a wage as he is not a part of the consortium. Yes m.Bateson had a knack of getting lots done around the club for free. Shame he did not treat some as good as he should have. |
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Post by capitalgull on May 26, 2008 19:32:38 GMT
I agree to a point, but if we are running a professional club, which we should be, then you need committed staff not ones who are worried they might be 'allowed to leave' 12 months later.
It's a case of balancing the work done with the costs and the benefits brought in. Remember when Bateson was in charge, there was so much less avdertising around the pitch and in the programme. It's been alleged to me that maybe all was not well with Mr Batten's level of work but if people are pulling their weight and pulling new business in, then the turnover should outweigh their salary.
It's when it's not that you have to start thinking about changes.
Andy
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Post by andyparsons on May 26, 2008 20:08:24 GMT
Not another Andy...this could get confusing! Interesting point you say about advertising, especially in the programme, as I seem to remember reading on another site somewhere!!  that there was too much advertising in the programme and not enough football related stuff. Not having bought a programme since the consortium took over I can't comment on that, but certainly if a programme is not selling well, then advertising is needed to subsidies the cost and alleviate the club from loosing money. |
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Dave
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Post by Dave on May 26, 2008 20:13:30 GMT
Not another Andy...this could get confusing! Interesting point you say about advertising, especially in the programme, as I seem to remember reading on another site somewhere!! that there was too much advertising in the programme and not enough football related stuff. Not having bought a programme since the consortium took over I can't comment on that, but certainly if a programme is not selling well, then advertising is needed to subsidies the cost and alleviate the club from loosing money. Well that is very true, but as a fan you buy a programme to have something to read, while you wait for the kick-off. While advertising is needed to subsidies the cost , if that is all there is to read, makes one feel that its a waste of money. |
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merse
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Post by merse on May 26, 2008 20:36:11 GMT
 I would stress the essential difference between "excess staff" and "necessary staff".......... Necessary staff only become excess staff when they fail to financially justify their presence, and nobody actually knows just who does, who doesn't and who might not in the future. Rather like the criticism of the present regime's perceived "aloofness", unless one is party to the actual policy and business plan of the club one cannot realistically be critical of something that is beyond the grasp of the average fan (and I don't mean that disrespectfully) May I promote the opinion that this board are more in the mould of the old Tony Boyce regime in that they prefer to let the professionals do the talking and thus the emphasis is on the action on the pitch and the social facilities of the club rather than on the boardroom antics and overblown personalities of those who inhabit it? In my opinion, clubs run by one overpowering figurehead have a much less healthy outlook than ones with a diverse and power sharing team at the table. Compare OUR club now with the Bateson era, Argyle now they are free of Dan McCauley; and certainly Exeter City post Russell and Lewis! ALL three Devon clubs now have good, balanced and responsible board members and to that one can add Yeovil Town as another extremely well run Westcountry club. I would guess Darryl Batten has done what Darryl is good at very well, but that the club has rather altered it's original business plan as regards the Laces pub and rather than reclaim it "in house" has now decided to re-franchise it to the current tenant who must have impressed them with his approach. By freeing Darryl, a salary becomes available for someone else who will head up another extremely important and necessary part of the club that was missing when the incumbent board took over and I reckon they will be announcing just who that is and what their responsibilities will be by the end of this week. As regards directors and what they "take out", I wouldn't take it as read that Ian Hayman performs the Company Secretary role for salary; rather than as a part of his personal qualification as a Chartered Accountant and a lifelong supporter of the club who is fortunate enough and generous enough to put his money where his mouth is. Regarding flying to games...............transporting the players to Leeds for the vital York semi final certainly justified itself financially as the Wembley windfall was achieved and the directors who flew up certainly did not do any other than finance the trip themselves. When costing the matter of treating the team professionally with adequate overnight accomodation, the counterbalance of lost revenue from a diminished following home gate after an away defeat has to be considered against the benefits of the expected increase following a moral boosting victory. I know overnight stays do not guarantee a victory but the overall impression given to the players and the trickle down benefits of the club's policy do have an effect especially when players at other clubs learn of this, and think how that may swing the pendulum when trying to persuade a sought after signing down to the Westcountry!
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Dave
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Post by Dave on May 26, 2008 20:41:36 GMT
First class post Merse, you must have been saving all that up  |
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Post by andygulls on May 26, 2008 20:45:55 GMT
Would have to agree with Merse. This board have a good range of knowledge between them and the first year has seen significant improvements. As football fans we tend to be impatient, I am as guilty of that as anybody, but off the pitch I am happy to leave the judgement to those that have the expertise and knowledge.
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AR10
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Torquay Fans Forum Manager
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Post by AR10 on May 26, 2008 20:53:15 GMT
Daryl was feeling the pressure a few months ago, as he contacted me via my football work to see if I could be of assistance to him as he was under instructions to get more out of the hospitality side between matches. I feel Daryl was not used to his potential which is giving hospitality rather than trying to get new business into the club, surely that should have been the responsibility of the commercial department & then let Daryl do what Daryl does best.
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Dave
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Post by Dave on May 29, 2008 16:36:55 GMT
Daryl was feeling the pressure a few months ago, as he contacted me via my football work to see if I could be of assistance to him as he was under instructions to get more out of the hospitality side between matches. I feel Daryl was not used to his potential which is giving hospitality rather than trying to get new business into the club, surely that should have been the responsibility of the commercial department & then let Daryl do what Daryl does best. shame then that the Club are looking for some one to do the very same job. Only different job title and I'm sure much less money. |
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that there was too much advertising in the programme and not enough football related stuff.
I would stress the essential difference between "excess staff" and "necessary staff"..........
